@ProfessorPlum168 - well, if we are talking SS then how 'bout Falcon Inn? Best greasy pizza in town. I wonder if they still do that?
@JBStillFlying never heard of the place before until now. I will say that that honestly speaking, from my standpoint, Chicago locals outside of Hyde Park wouldn’t intentionally go into that area unless they’re going to the Museum of Science and Industry or unless they were connected with UC.
There’s a heck of a lot of blues in Chicago, still, and it’s one of a handful of cities with a vibrant jazz culture as well. Plus, unsurprisingly, strong and dynamic Mexican music, constant hip-hop innovation, and an art-rock scene that’s second only to Brooklyn and probably more economically successful.
@JHS my impression is that the blues scene ain’t what it used to be. But if blues is still alive and well, I’m happy to be corrected.
@ProfessorPlum168: that could be, but - honestly speaking - we know several families who have intentionally moved into the area to be closer to Lab. And, by the way, there are many neighborhood joints throughout Chicago known primarily to the locals around the area. And when it comes to something like pizza, local is usually enough.
Isn’t there a north side snobbery phenomenon at work here? Perhaps with justification. Nevertheless it goes to make the University’s south side setting the road less travelled, and that fits very well, both literally and metaphorically, with many other features of the University. Setting, like weather, has an impact on character. Unfashionableness is our battle-cry!
Hot take: Lou Malnati’s has some of the worst pizza in the city
For deep dish, I like Pequod’s. Fair warning: it gets crowded and it doesn’t take reservations.
It’s been a long time since I’ve dined in Chinatown, but that neighborhood is on the south side not very far from Hyde Park. Someone will have a recommendation. The sea bass at my old haunt was the best in the world, according to my Chinese-born apartment-mate. My experience was limited at that time but has since improved - he was right!
- Pequods is walking distance from the friends we often stay with when we come to Chicago. Maybe sometime I'll be willing to try another shot at deep dish.
- http://www.chicagobluesnews.com/calendar.html The blues scene may not be what it used to be, but what's left is still impressive in quantity compared to practically anywhere else.
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Unfashionableness is our battle-cry!
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Um, no. I don’t think you can say that anymore. It hasn’t been true for awhile, and it’s farther from the truth every day.
Idk if that’s true. UChicago kids are still pretty unfashionable.
^ On that note, someone just told me that Chicago Law now hold interviews between candidates and adcom via Skype in order to screen out the geeks. Not sure how true that is but thought I’d pass it on. Sounds like an updated version of the Ari Schwartz legend.
@marlowe1 - I stayed in Chinatown a little more than a year ago while visiting my and it was hopping! Food is still excellent there, I understand.
I wasn’t just talking about what the undergraduates wear.(although there has been a strong increase in that kind of fashionability over the 15 years in which I have occasionally visited the campus). I was talking about the 30,000+ undergraduate applications, the constant high rankings everywhere, the presence of a handful of high-name-recognition undergraduates, the movie cameos, and a campus that’s becoming something of a display gallery for ultra-hip architects. No one is going to call Tod Williams Billie Tsien, Jeanne Gang, or Helmut Jahn unfashionable.
Try dim sum at Cai, Phoenix or MingHin. But unless you want to spend 90 minutes waiting for table, don’t go on the weekend.
Dim sum in Chicago is not Bay Area or Vancouver quality. But it is acceptable.
I was indulging a whimsy in extolling unfashionableness. But if I am forced to get metaphysical about this thing, can’t it be that there’s a form of unfashionableness that is admired, perhaps by a minority, for that very reason? A thing can appeal to a special taste without setting a fashion.
Chicago’s winters are tough, the neighborhood is on the wrong side of town, all that studiousness and seriousness about studies is uncool, the Core is a drag, fun dies and there is no brand recognition by the general public - yet certain kinds of kids, more now than formerly, seem to see something they like in the place. Maybe more kids now are looking for a different thing and see Chicago as offering it. I believe it was DeepBlue who acknowledged once that the elite private schools were now sending more kids to Chicago but that you have to look at who those kids are: they’re studious and smart but not, he implied, made of the same leaderly charismatic sporting etc stuff as those who go to the truly fashionable schools.
You’re my authority here, @HydeSnark . Can I press you to expatiate on your Delphic utterance at #28? I think you’re referring to more than clothing, but I will accept correction.
I stayed at the Sophy a few months ago and it is a terrific boutique hotel. The rooms are fabulous and the staff is friendly and helpful. The Sophy is very convenient to campus and there are plenty of restaurants nearby. But if you want to tour downtown Chicago, you might be better off staying at the Hilton. Your choice of which hotel to stay in really depends on whether you want to explore Hyde Park or downtown Chicago.
Looks like the Congress Hotel on Michigan has a great deal going on Hotels.com. King or double/double. April 4 - 6. $120 per night, two adults.
Edit to add: Free Cancellation, pay now or at hotel 
Many years ago we used to have our parents and in-laws stay at the Blackstone because it was a decent hotel with an economical price. In those days nothing good in Hyde Park - not even the one on 50th and LSD (can’t remember what it is now - it was a Hilton back then I believe). Anyway, Blackstone is at Michigan and Balbo, just a block south of the Congress and - at the time - much less expensive. I notice now that it’s nearly $250 per night! Too bad - but they seem to have done major restoration on the dwelling and probably saved it from falling into utter disrepair. I believe it’s now a historic landmark.
Congress is known to be one of the most haunted hotels in Chicago. Blackstone might be as well for all I know (at least before the renovations). Lots of presidents have stayed there.
Try the Green Mill for Jazz. Get there early and eat before you go because the only food they serve is in a bottle. There’s an Ethiopian joint across the street. If you like Jamaican food, you HAVE to got to Ja’ Grill in Hyde Park. The food is wonderful…like NYC back in the day Crooklyn wonderful. Chicago pizza is OK. Ferrentino’s in Lake Forest is about as close as your going to get to NY style. NY pizza is like roasted chestnuts, hot salted pretzels or dirty water hot dogs…only in NYC. Now I’ll stop before the mods get all flustered over the debate.
Very touristy thing to do but if you encounter a nice and sunny spring day in Chicago, you can go up to the sky deck of either Sears/Willis Tower or John Hancock Building for a fantastic view of the City, Lake Michigan and the entire Chicagoland. Or have a drink or dinner at the Signature Room at 95th at John Hancock.
UChicago used to have (and may well still have) a good rate deal at the Best Western Grant Park on Michigan near Roosevelt. The hotel is nothing to write home about, but it’s super-convenient to the 6 bus going to and from Hyde Park, and the price was right with the UChicago rate.
There are four hotels listed on the parent page of uchicago.edu. I’ve actually used the Comfort Inn on Michigan avenue that they recommend and the room was exceptional (considering it was a Comfort Inn, it was one of the best rooms for the money I’ve ever paid). Price was right, parking if you need it was reasonable at the valet. It’s only drawback was it wasn’t within walking distance to Hyde Park.